A MVUMA circuit court clerk who last year forged two Gweru magistrates’ signatures and withdrew $547 from the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) bank account was yesterday jailed for an effective 30 months after he was convicted on two counts of forgery.

by Stephen Chadenga

Sungano Kubiku, aged 36 of Newlands suburb in Mvuma, forged signatures of Gweru magistrates Mildred Matuvi and Maud Munengwa.

Magistrate Sangster Tavengwa initially slapped Kubiku with 42 months in prison. He, however, suspended 12 months on condition that Kubiku pays $547 restitution to the commission.

Kubiku, who stood tense in the dock as sentence was being delivered, had denied the charges saying he went to the bank to check on his account and never attempted to withdraw money from the JSC account.

It was the State’s case that on December 9 last year, Kubiku went to CBZ Bank Gweru branch where he presented a signed withdrawal slip and withdrew $547 from the bank.

The court further heard that on December 12 he again went to the same bank with another withdrawal slip intending to withdraw $1 800.

The slip was, however, taken to the bank manager following a tip-off from court officials.

It was discovered that the signature on the withdrawal slip was forged and a report was made to the police, leading to Kubiku’s arrest.

Tweet